The Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC WASA) today voted unanimously to appoint Avis Marie Russell, Esq., DC WASA’s general counsel, as interim general manager. Ms. Russell replaces Jerry N. Johnson, who is joining the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission in September as its general manager.

At today’s DC WASA board meeting, Mr. Johnson told the board, “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you. Over the last 12 years, you have provided the guidance, flexibility and resources we needed to do our jobs. I am especially proud of our 1100 employees out in the trenches, in all kinds of weather, 24 hours a day, working on water and sewer infrastructure and running our plant facilities. Along with the board, they are responsible for our success over the years.”

Mr. Johnson is nationally known as a turnaround specialist and is one of the longest tenured public sector executives in the region. As the first general manager of the Authority, which was created in 1996, he guided it from an unrated agency to one with an AA credit rating. During his tenure with DC WASA, much of the water and sewer infrastructure, which had seen little attention for decades, was stabilized or upgraded; the Blue Plains wastewater treatment plant was practically rebuilt under a nearly $1 billion modernization; a federally approved plan is underway for a massive $2 billion project to control water pollution from the District’s combined sewer system, and $125 million in federal funding assistance for the project was appropriated.

During today’s board meeting, DC WASA chairman William M. Walker thanked Mr. Johnson for his service over the last 12 years and a job well done. He added “At every single turn, (Mr. Johnson) was the ultimate professional in running this Authority.”

In a resolution (attached), the Council of the District of Columbia extended its appreciation to Mr. Johnson on June 25, 2009 “for his distinguished service and extensive contributions to the residents of the District of Columbia providing world-class water and wastewater services while serving as a leading environmental steward.”

“Jerry Johnson has done a tremendous job of building this organization,” said Avis Russell. “I look forward to working with the Board and employees of DC WASA as we continue to make progress and transition to a new general manager.”

Ms. Russell joined DC WASA as general counsel in 2004. She previously served as executive counsel to the Mayor of New Orleans and as city attorney. Additionally, she practiced law with three New Orleans law firms. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Tulane University School of Law.

“She brings an appropriate mix of managerial, public policy and environmental law experience to the table,” Mr. Johnson said. The board is continuing to interview candidates for the GM position.